Crack Magazine receives £280k investment from Creative Growth Finance fund

Creative UK has invested £280,000 into Crack Industries, the media platform behind Bristol-based Crack Magazine. With this investment, Creative UK’s Creative Growth Finance builds on its investment portfolio which already includes over 30 creative sector businesses.

Beginning life as a bedroom project in 2009, Crack Industries is most widely known for its highly influential cultural media platform Crack Magazine. The publication is now an internationally renowned, award-winning destination for content and experiences in music, culture and beyond with their stories reaching a global, captive audience of 4 million people a month through the web, social and a worldwide network of stockists.

By securing an investment of £280,000 from Creative Growth Finance, founders Jake Applebee and Tom Frost plan to enhance the B2C sales and e-commerce side of the business, emphasising merchandising and membership schemes. They will also be able to invest further in their existing talented staff as well as attract new, experienced commercial expertise and foster effective business expansion through the development of high-quality brand partnerships.

Matt Browning, Head of Investment Creative UK, said: 

“It is fantastic to welcome Crack magazine to the portfolio. The company’s evolution extends far beyond print, as it engages new audiences through emerging platforms, enhancing the voices of the music and cultural scene. I am excited to continue hearing important stories in this space, amplified through their channels.” 

Jake Applebee, Co-founder & Director of Crack Industries commented:  

“We are thrilled to have received a investment loan from Creative UK. The loan will help our business realise a number of long-held creative ambitions and we can’t wait to work directly with the team to help us achieve these.”

For further information on Creative Growth Finance and the fund’s eligibility criteria please visit www.wearecreative.uk/support/creative-enterprise/investment/creativegrowthfinance 

For press and media enquiries please contact Shaun Bell, Director of Marketing and Communications, Creative UK on shaun.bell@wearecreative.uk 

For investment enquiries please contact Matt Browning, Head of Investment, Creative UK on matt.browning@wearecreative.uk